University of Worcester graduate runs marathon for late brother-in-law
Daniel Player, a University of Worcester student, died in 2024 at the age of 26 before he could graduate.
He was born with scoliosis and restrictive lung disease and was later diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Mr Player was eventually diagnosed as having a very rare condition called spondylocostal dysostosis and lived with constant pain.
Over the weekend, family member Nathan Beard took on the Manchester Marathon to raise money for a cause close to his late brother-in-law's heart.
Mr Beard said: "I was preparing for this before Dan passed away.
"I spoke to him about it and asked which charity he'd like me to raise money for and he said the Royal Osteoporosis Society."
Mr Beard, who is also a graduate from the university, said: "Because that was Dan's request, it makes it more personal for me to raise as much as I can.
"When I saw I'd raised a thousand pounds in the first weekend I couldn't believe it."
Prior to Sunday, Mr Beard had completed 10-kilometre runs and half marathons, but never the full 26.2-mile marathon distance.
He said: "I'm really happy to have completed the marathon.
"The conditions were really tough given the warm weather.
"I was going well until about mile 15 and struggled from there, but I was determined to finish it for Dan.
"The tagline for training and the race was 'Do it for Dan', and that's what kept me going.
"I like to think he was supporting me in spirit."
He added: "The original target I set was £1,000, and I hit that in just a couple of days, so I revised it to £2,000, and to have now comfortably surpassed that is just incredible."
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